Union Pacific Railroad Dining Cart Plate CA2637

A Union Pacific Railroad dining car plate produced by the Syracuse China Company, featuring a lively figural design rendered in bold, hand-applied colors. The illustration depicts a stylized performer in motion, accented by geometric banding, reflecting the playful Art Deco–influenced graphics used on American railroad china in the early to mid-20th century.

Syracuse China Company was a leading manufacturer of durable vitrified hotel and railroad ware, supplying major rail lines such as the Union Pacific with custom patterns designed to withstand heavy service while maintaining visual appeal. Plates like this were used in Union Pacific dining cars during the golden age of American rail travel, when onboard dining was an important part of the passenger experience.

A strong example of American railroad ephemera and industrial design history.